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Convention concerning the Exchange of Official Publications and Government Documents between States 1958

Paris, 3 December 1958

Depositary - Entry into force - Authoritative texts - Registration at the UN - States Parties - Declarations and Reservations - Territorial Application -

UNESDOC - (PDF) English - French - Spanish - Russian

The General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, meeting in Paris from 4 November to 5 December 1958, at its tenth session,

Convinced that development of the international exchange of publications is essential to the free exchange of ideas and knowledge among the peoples of the world, Considering the importance accorded to the international exchange of publications by the Constitution of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization,

Being aware of the provisions for the exchange of official publications and government documents contained in the Convention for the International Exchange of Official Documents, Scientific and Literary Publications and in the Convention for the Immediate Exchange of Official Journals, Public Parliamentary Annals and Documents, concluded in Brussels on 15 March 1886 and in various regional agreements for the exchange of publications,

Recognizing the need for a new international convention concerning the exchange of official publications and government documents between States,

Having before it proposals concerning the exchange of official publications and government documents between States constituting item 15.4.1 on the agenda of the session,

Having decided, at its ninth session that these proposals should be made the subject of international regulation by way of an international convention,

Adopts, this third day of December 1958, the present Convention.


Article 1. Exchange of official publications and government documents

The Contracting States express their willingness to exchange their official publications and government documents, on a reciprocal basis, in accordance with the provisions of the present Convention.

Article 2. Definition of official publications and government documents

1. For the purpose of the present Convention, the following are considered official publications and government documents when they are executed by the order and at the expense of any national governmental authority: parliamentary documents, reports and journals and other legislative papers; administrative publications and reports from central, federal and regional governmental bodies; national bibliographies, State handbooks, bodies of law, decisions of the Courts of Justice; and other publications as may be agreed.

2. However, in the application of the present Convention, the Contracting States shall be free to determine the official publications and government documents which shall constitute exchange material.

3. The present Convention does not apply to confidential documents, circulars and other items which have not been made public.

Article 3. Bilateral agreements

The Contracting States, whenever they deem it appropriate, shall enter into bilateral agreements for the purpose of implementing the present Convention and regulating matters of common concern arising out of its application.

Article 4. National exchange authorities

1. In each Contracting State, the national exchange service or, where no such service exists, the central authority or authorities designated for the purpose, shall carry out the functions of exchange.

2. The exchange authorities shall be responsible within each Contracting State for the implementation of the present Convention and of bilateral agreements as referred to in Article 3, whenever appropriate. Each Contracting State shall give its national exchange service or the central exchange authorities the powers required to obtain the material to be exchanged and sufficient financial means to carry out the functions of exchange.

Article 5. List and number of publications for exchange

The list and number of official publications and government documents for exchange shall be agreed between the exchange authorities of the Contracting States. This list and the number of official publications set forth in the Convention for exchange may be modified by arrangements between such authorities.

Article 6. Method of transmission

Transmissions may be made directly to exchange authorities or to recipients named by them. The method of listing consignments may be agreed between exchange authorities.

Article 7. Transport charges

Unless otherwise agreed, the exchange authority which undertakes the transmission shall bear the cost thereof as far as destination, but for transport by sea, the cost of packing and carriage shall be paid only as far as the customs office of the port of arrival.

Article 8. Rates and conditions of transport

The Contracting States shall take all the necessary measures to ensure that the exchange authorities benefit from the most favorable existing-rates and transport conditions, whatever the means of transport chosen: post, road, rail, inland or sea transport, airmail or air cargo.

Article 9. Customs and other facilities

Each Contracting State shall rant its exchange authorities exemption from customs duties for both imported and exported material under the provisions of the present Convention or under any agreement in implementation thereof and shall accord them the most favorable treatment as regards customs and other facilities.

Article 10. International co-ordination of exchange

To assist the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in the performance of the functions concerning the international co-ordination of exchange assigned to it by its Constitution, the Contracting States shall send to the Organization annual reports on the working of the present Convention and copies of bilateral agreements entered into in accordance with Article 3.

Article 11. Information and studies

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization shall publish information received from the Contracting States in conformity with Article 10 and shall prepare and publish studies on the working of the present Convention.

Article 12. Assistance of UNESCO

1. The Contracting States may call upon the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization for technical assistance in connexion with any problem arising out of the application of the present Convention. The Organization shall accord such assistance within the limits fixed by its programme and its resources, in particular, for the creation and organization of national exchange services,

2. The Organization is authorized to make, on its own initiative, proposals on these matters to the Contracting States.

Article 13. Relation to previous agreements

The present Convention shall not affect obligations previously entered into by the Contracting States by virtue of international agreements. It shall not be construed as requiring a duplication of exchanges conducted under existing agreements.

Article 14. Languages

The present Convention is drawn up in English, French, Russian and Spanish, the four texts being equally authoritative.

Article 15. Ratification and acceptance

1.The present Convention shall be subject to -ratification or acceptance by States members of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, in accordance with their respective constitutional procedures.

2. The instruments of ratification or acceptance shall be deposited with the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Article 16. Accession

1. The present Convention shall be open for accession by all States not members of the Organization invited to do so by the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

2. Accession shall be effected by the deposit of an instrument of accession with the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Article 17. Entry into force

The present Convention shall enter into force twelve months after the date of the deposit of the third instrument of ratification, acceptance or accession, but only with respect to those States which have deposited their respective instruments on or before that date. It shall enter into force for each other State which deposits its instrument of ratification, acceptance or accession, twelve months after the deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance or accession.

Article 18. Territorial extension of the Convention

Any Contracting State may, at the time of ratification, acceptance or accession, or at any time thereafter, declare by notification addressed to the Director General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization that the present Convention shall extend to all or any of the territories for whose international relations it is responsible. The said notification shall take effect twelve months after the date of its receipt.

Article 19. Denunciation

1. Each Contracting State may denounce the present Convention on its own behalf or on behalf of any territory for whose international relations it is responsible.

2. The denunciation shall be notified by an instrument in writing, deposited with the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

3. The denunciation shall take effect twelve months after the receipt of the instrument of denunciation.

Article 20. Notifications

The Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization shall inform the States members of the Organization, States not members of the Organization referred to in Article 16, as well as the United Nations, of the deposit of all the instruments of ratification, acceptance and accession provided for in Articles 15 and 16 and of the notifications and denunciations provided for respectively in Articles 18 and 19.

Article 21. Revision of the Convention

1. The present Convention may be revised by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, any such revision, however, binding only those States which shall become parties to the revising convention.

2. Should the General Conference adopt a new convention revising the present Convention in whole or in part, and unless the new convention otherwise provides, the present Convention shall cease to be open to ratification, acceptance or accession as from the date when the new revising convention enters into force.

Article 22. Registration

In accordance with Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations, the present Convention shall be registered with the Secretariat of the United Nations at the request of the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.


Done at Paris, this fifth day of December 1958, in two authentic copies bearing the signatures of the President of the tenth session of the General Conference and of the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, which shall be deposited in the Archives of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and certified true copies of which shall be delivered to all, the States referred to in Articles 15 and 16 as well as to the United Nations.

Depositary :

UNESCO

Entry into force :

30 May 1961, in accordance with Article 17

Authoritative texts :

English, French, Russian and Spanish

Registration at the UN :

15 June 1961, No 5715

States Parties

List in alphabetical order
List in chronological order

Declarations and Reservations :


German Democratic Republic
« The position of the German Democratic Republic on Articles 18 and 19 of the Convention, as far as the application of the Convention to colonial and other dependant territories is concerned, is governed by the provisions of the United Nations Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (Resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960) proclaiming the necessity of bringing to a speedy and unconditional end colonialism in all forms and manifestations » (See CL/2429 of 15 April 1975)

Iraq
The acceptance of the Convention by Iraq shall ‘in no way recognition of Israel or be conducive to entry into relations with it’. (See letter CL/2352 of 15 March 1974.)

Romania
‘On ratifying the Convention on the exchange of Official Publications and Government Documents between States, the Council of the People’s Republic of Romania declares that the provisions of Articles 18 and 19 of the Convention concerning territories for which a Contracting State is responsible for the conduct of their foreign relations, are inconsistent with Declaration 1514 adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 14 December 1960, which proclaims the necessity of bringing to a speedy and unconditional end of colonialism in all its forms and manifestations’. (See letter CL/1792 of 27 August 1965.)

Territorial Application :

Notification byDate of receipt of notificationExtension to
Netherlands 21 November 1975 The Kingdom in Europe, Surinam, Netherlands Antilles (See Letter LA/Depositary/1976/1of 27 January 1976)
-16 January 1986 Aruba (see note 1)
-11 May 2011In accordance with the terms of the notification of 8 October 2010, hereinafter the status report of the international agreements that apply to Curaçao, Sint Maarten and/or the Caribbean part of the Netherlands as a result of the modification of the internal constitutional relations within the Kingdom of the Netherlands : The Netherlands (European part) - application : yes ; entry into force : 21 November 1976 / Caribbean part of the Netherlands (the islands of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba) - application : yes ; entry into force : 10 October 2010 (succession) / Aruba - application : yes ; entry into force : 1 January 1986 (succession) / Curaçao - application : yes ; entry into force : 10 October 2010 (succession) / Sint Maarten - application : yes ; entry into force : 10 October 2010 (succession)
United Kingdom 1 June 1961 Jersey, the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Isle of Man; the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (see note 2); Malta; Seychelles; British Solomon Islands Protectorate; Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony; British Guiana; Bahamas; Bermuda; British Virgin Islands; Jamaica; Trinidad and Tobago; Antigua; St. Lucia; Montserrat; Barbados; St.Vincent; Grenada; Dominica; St-Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla; and the State of Singapore (see Letter CL/1500 of 10 July 1961).


 
Notes :

(1) Notification of the Netherlands (16 January 1986, Letter LA/DEP/1986/5): The island of Aruba, which is at present still part of the Netherlands Antilles, will obtain internal autonomy as a country within the Kingdom of Netherlands as of 1 January 1986. Consequently the Kingdom will from then on no longer consist of two countries, namely the Netherlands (The Kingdom in Europe) and the Netherlands Antilles (situated in the Caribbean region), but will consist of three countries, namely the said two countries and the country of Aruba. As the changes being made on 1 January 1986 concern a shift only in the internal constitutional relations within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and as the Kingdom as such will remain the subject under international law with treaties are concluded, the said changes will have no consequences in international law regarding to treaties concluded by the Kingdom which already apply to the Netherlands Antilles, including Aruba. These treaties will remain in force for Aruba in its capacity of country within the Kingdom. Therefore these treaties will as of 1 January 1986, as concerns the Kingdom of the Netherlands, apply to the Netherlands Antilles (without Aruba) and Aruba. Consequently the treaties referred to in the annex, to which the Kingdom of the Netherlands is a party and which apply to the Netherlands Antilles, will as of 1 January 1986 as concerns the Kingdom of the of the Netherlands apply to the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba.

(2) As a result of this notification, the Government of Malawi, in a communication dated 8 March 1968, mentioned a letter addressed on 24 November 1964 to the Secretary-General of the United Nations concerning Malawi's inherited treaty obligations, in which the Government of Malawi declared that with respect to multilateral treaties which had been applied or extended to the former Nyasaland Protectorate, any Party to such treaty could on the basis of reciprocity rely as against Malawi on the terms of such treaty until Malawi notified the depositary of the action it wished to take in relation to each such instrument by way of confirmation of termination, confirmation of succession or accession. The Government of Malawi, in its letter o f8 March 1968, declares that it considers that any legal relationship with the Convention concerning the Exchange of Official Publications and Government Documents between States which might have devolved upon it by way of succession from the ratification of the United Kingdom is terminated as of 8 March 1968. (See letter CL/1947 of 14 June 1968.)

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